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Deccan Herald » Panorama » Detailed Story
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The Inquirer
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‘India follows a democratic path of debate’
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By K S Narayanan
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Guy Sorman, a French philosopher and Indophile, believes that India is coping well with globalisation compared to China. He says that the real issue is not the clash between West and Islam, but between the radical and moderate Muslims. Excerpts from an interview with Deccan Herald:
You have been visiting India often. What holds your interest?
I have been coming here since the 1970s. I was trained as a developmental economist...the great mystery in the ’70s and ’80s was to understand why there was no growth in India and what’s not working. My initial association was not for cultural or civilisational reasons, but to understand the mystery of non-development. I always argued that there was no reason why India should remain poor. Economic liberalisation seems to be making the rich richer and poor poorer?
Based on statistics we can say Indian economy is growing. Two-thirds of the Indian people are bettering their lives, giving rise to a new middle class. This means average Indians are making progress. Also, life is transforming for the villager. But for the one-third of the people it does not work at all.
Is your perception of India coloured by conducted tours?
I have always gone on tours without guides. One of my closest friends in India is Prof M S Swaminathan, father of the Green Revolution and a committed Gandhian working for the poor people. Thanks to him we go to remote villages and often visit the same village year after year to know what changes are taking place.
Despite the success of Green Revolution we have reports of farmers' suicides. Is this not a paradox?
One-third of Indians are still stuck in poverty. It is basically a problem of gender bias, education, inequality and malnutrition. There is no global ideological answer that free market works or doesn't work. What M S Swaminathan and people like him are doing is very little when compared to the scope of the problem.
How is India coping with the process of globalisation?
India is doing quite well, better than China in terms of culture and sustainability. India follows a democratic path of debate and consensus, not so in China.
Are you advocating the McDonaldisation of culture?
A senior marketing personnel from Mc Donald’s said in the future the only thing McDonald’s will have in common all over the world are clean toilets and the food will be different.
But local foodies will be wiped out?
It is a significant example. Initially, Mc Donald’s started selling fries and hamburgers but now they have taken into consideration local traditions and tastes. So the global fast food chain that is part of the global culture is not only about food but also about clean toilets. I am not against clean toilets.
As an expert on Islamic societies, how far do you think the US attack on Iraq is a clash of civilisations?
Samuel Huntington’s thesis on clash of civilisations is wrong for many reasons. He does not define civilisation. It is too simple an explanation. In my book, Children of Rifaa, I explained that the true clash is not between the West and Islam, but between radical and moderate Muslims. It is Muslims versus Muslims and the debate is who will seize power in the Muslim world.
But the voice of moderate Muslims is not heard.
They are in majority but it is extremely difficult and dangerous for them to get organised.
The scene in India..
I am extremely impressed by the co-existence between Muslims and non-Muslims.
I think the Muslims’ story in India is rather successful.
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Saturday, May 27, 2006
